Hellmuth kranich and jacques bach



H. KRANIOH & J. BAGH. Piano Forte Action.

Patented Oct. 12, 1880.

No. 233,1o3.

N.PETERS.PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHH A UNITED STATES PATENT Orrin-r3,

HELLMUTH KRANIOH AND J AGQUES EACH, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

PIANO-FORTE ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,103, dated October12, 1880.

Application filed October 8, 1879.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that we, HELLMUTH KRANICH and JACQUES BAOH, of the-city ofNew York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Piano-Forte Actions for Upright Piano- Fortes,of which the following is a true and correct specification, and theaccompanying are correct drawings thereof, in which latter Figure I is aside elevation. Fig. II is a detailed sectional view of the same.

The object of our invention is to produce apiano-forte action forupright piano-fortes wherein means are provided whereby the wooden buttsby means of which the mechanism is attached to the rack may have spacewherein to expand when affected by atmospheric influence, and resetafter such expan sion, so as to avoid the rattling caused by loosebutts, and also to produce an action which will facilitate tremolonotesthat is, a rapid repetition without necessitating the action of theentire arm when performing on an instrument.

Referring to the drawings, B is an ordinary action-key having the propermeans for raising the lifting-butt A. The butt A is provided with thejack D. This jack D, at its upper end, has a slot, d. At one side of thejack D is attached a spring, (1, which is bent over and passes throughthe slot (I.

G is a hammer-butt, to which is attached, at the upper face, the hammerJ by means of shank j, resting against rail j. At the side of thebuttGis attached, by means of a shank, f, the back jack-catch, F, whichis properly weighted to assist in its falling. The shank f has a slot,f, preferably cushioned, and is provided to guide the upper end of thespring d.

I is a butt-arm, by means of which a part of the action mechanism issecured by a screw, 15, to the rack.

it are springs, made preferably of flat springbrass, which are placedbetween the heads of the screw and the pivoted arm M and buttarm I.

H is a damper arm or lifter.

M is a pivoted arm, screwed to the rack and carrying part of themechanism.

Heretot'ore the butts were screwed to the rack without any interveningmedium to allow the expansion of the butt through atmospheric changes;consequently the butts through swelling forced the wood-screw'i from itsseat and the action became loose and rattling. By the use of ourimprovement all this is obviated, and if the butts swell ever so muchthey will always be kept in place by the springs i.

The great feature of our invention is, however, the improvedconstruction of the hammer-raising mechanism, by which improvement it isrendered only necessary to slightly tremble the finger and produceregularity in note.

K is a rail provided with stop L- and adjustable restk. Zis a damper.The spring (2 is so affixed that great play is given to the curvedportion between the coiled part and the point of its fastening, theupper portion of the spring (1 being passed through the slot f. Theupper portion of the spring is bent in the shape of an elbow, the angleresting against the end of the slot f nearest the hammer-butt. \Vheu thekey is raised the action of the spring d prevents the jack D fromslipping away altogether from the shoulder of the hammer-butt, thusinsuring the catching of the hammer-butt by a very slight motion.

YVhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a piano-forte action, the combination of the jacket D, having aslot, (Z, the hammerbutt G and its shankf, having a slot,f, and thespring (1, engaging the respective slots, constructed and arranged tooperate substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a piano-forteaction, the combination of the jack D, provided witha slot, (7, the hammer-butt Gr, provided with a slot, f, the spring (I,engaging the respective slots, the back jack-catch, F, and the rail K,provided with a rest, It, and the adjustable stop k, the whole arrangedto operate substantially as specified.

3. In a piano-forte action, the combination intermediate spiral spring,1 substantially as of the ham mer-butt G,butt-arin I, and damperand forthe purpose set fortli. arm H, secured to the rail 0 by means of a 1 fscrew and an intermediate spiral spring, 1 i 5 substantially and for thepurposes specified.

4. In a piano-forte action, the combination, Vitnesses: with thelifting-butt A, of the pivoted arm M, EUGENE P. MEDANIOH,

secured to the rail 0 by means of a screw and HERM. A. GUNTHER, Jr.

